What to do After a Hit-and-Run Accident in Maryland

By
|December 14, 2018

Getting into an automobile accident is bad enough, but it feels like a
complete nightmare when the person who caused the accident suddenly takes
off without exchanging information or even seeing if you are ok. While
you hope it never happens, there are also some ways you can protect yourself
in the event a hit-and-run does happen to you.

Purchase Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance Coverage

Before the risk of a hit-and-run accident becomes a reality, you need to
ensure you have your own coverage to help pay for your damages and injuries.
This is known as Uninsured Motorist, or UM, coverage. This means your
insurance company would handle the claim, essentially “stepping
into the shoes” of the at-fault driver’s carrier. UM is bundled
with Underinsured Motorist coverage (UIM), which kicks in if you have
a major injury claim and the other, at-fault driver does not carry high
enough limits to cover your injury claim.

While you can purchase UM/UIM coverage with low limits, we recommend you
purchase the highest coverage you can afford. In the event you have a
serious accident, the minimum limits may not be enough to cover your medical
bills and loss of earnings, let alone any future medical expenses or disability.

What to do at the Scene of a Hit-and-Run

It is likely that you will still be in shock several minutes after the
accident occurs, but if you see that the other driver is about to leave
the scene, try to commit to memory or write down as many details about
the other vehicle as you can. Maybe you can read all or part of the license
plate, or you got a good description of the car and what the driver looked
like. You need to call 911 immediately and relay all the details you can
remember to them.

The 911 operator will dispatch an officer to the scene who will take a
report and initiate a criminal investigation. If you are not too injured
that you are taken away in an ambulance immediately, try to get photos
of the scene and any important details you may need to refer back to later.

Importance of an Attorney in a Hit-and-Run Case

You should also contact a skilled
Maryland car accident attorney right away. While a hit-and-run is a crime, it is also probably going
to be on the back-burner for the police, who are likely already swamped
with more serious criminal investigations. An attorney can help conduct
an independent investigation in an attempt to track down the responsible driver.

You might be wondering why you need an attorney if you are going to present
a UM claim to your own carrier. It is important to understand that in
the case of UM or UIM claims, your insurance will treat it as a third-party
claim. This means they would handle your claim as though they were the
other carrier, and that means challenging the necessity of medical treatment
and how serious your injuries are in order to reduce the potential payout.
Without an attorney, you would be forced to negotiate with them in order
to settle your claim.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.